Stapling machine



oct. 2o, 1959 Filed June 30. 1958 L. STEINMETZ ETAL STAPLING MACHINE l esheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1959 Filed June 50, 1958` STEINMETZETAL STAPLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY QM: #Ag/4m ATTORNEY oct. zo,1959 L. STINMETZ am 2,908,908

STAPLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30. 1958 ATTORNEY L;s'rElNMETz Erm. 2,908,908

sTAPnING MACHINE oct. 2o, 1959 Filed June 30. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 `BY9ms. Haga/1 Air'roRNEY INVENToRs Oct. 20, 1959 1 sTElNMETz ETAL2,908,908

STAPLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 30, 1958 INVENTORQSATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1959 L. s-rElNME-rz ETAL l y sTAPLING MACHINE v 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 30. 1958 INV E NTORS /v/Yf ATTORNEY United.Staes Patent z,9os,9os srAPLlNG MAcHmn Lawrence Steinmetz, Brooklyn,and Erich Schmidt, Glendale, N.Y.; said Schmidt assignor to'saidSteinmetz Application June 3o, 195s, serial No. 745,468 12 claims. (c1.1a

The present invention relates to a stapling machine and moreparticularly to a machine for stapling a garment fastener element andbacking plate to a garment. i

ment by riveting or stapling throughl the garment to suito able backingplates.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new,improved and simplied form of stapling machine for securing a garmentfastener hook or eye to a garment and associated backing plate. p

Stapling machines for securing fastener elements and backing plates to agarment are known and, for example, one such machine is shown in PatentNo. 2,718,004. However, the previous types of stapling machines, such asthe type shown in the aforementioned patent, were lculties in theiroperation in feeding the fastener elements and backing plates to thestapling anvils.

Therefore, another important object of the invention is to provide animproved stapling machinefhaving simplid and reliable means to feed theelements to be stapled onto the respective anvil members of the machine.

A feature of the invention as used in a stapling machine having areciprocable anvil movable to and from a stationary anvil, is theprovision of a supply reel of tape having secured thereona plurality ofAfastener elements with depending staple prongs. Friction dri-ve meansis provided to continuously pull said tape towards a stop element with afastener engaging the stop element which may be adjacent one of thestapling anvils in its rest position. First reciprocating means isprovided to strip the fastener element on the tape as positioned at thestop element and transfer the element to one of the stapling anvils. Inaddition, a container of backing plates isv provided together withsecond reciprocable means `to transfer a backingplate to the other anvilin a position with the apertures in the backing plate'` aligned with theprongs ofthe fastener element onthe one anvil.I Thereafter, the movableanvil may be reciprocated to Yand from the stationary` anvil with agarment therebetween to thereby staple and secure theffastener tothegarment and backing plate.

Further objects, features and the attending advantages of the inventionwill -be apparent with reference to the following specication anddrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a supply -tape with eye fastener`elements secured thereon; l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a supply tape with hook fastenerelements secured thereon; i

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is afragmentary front view of the lower portion of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view to the rightof Fig. '5;

Fig.V 7 is a sectional view'on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8;

2,908,908 v liatented Oct.T 2l),

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 withthe upper reciprocating anvil omitted;

Fig. 9.is a sectional view on the liney 94-9 of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is anexploded view of a detail shown in Fig. 9; 'Fig. 11 isa sectional viewthrough thev head ofthe reciprocable anvil; Fig. i 12 is a sectionalView through the head of the reciprocable anvil taken at right angles tothe section of Fig. 11 andlon the line 12-12 of Fig. 6;

`Fig.`13 is a detail sectional view through Athe supply tape guideandvstop members;l A i Fig. 14 is a view of 'the supply tape guide andstop member as seen to the right of Fig. 13;

Fig. 1S is an explodeddetail 'of the reciprocating transfer means forthe element on the supply tapeJ and showing the motion guide'c'am 'for'the reciprocating means;'and` Fig. 16 isa wiring diagram for the controlcircuit of themachine. f" u Referring first to Figures=144 of thedrawings, the stapling machine is generally fcomprisedof a benchmountedyoke 10 supportingan air'cylinder 11 fora i yoke 10.

reciprocating anvil 12'. The air cylinder piston rod 13 which isconnected tothe anvil 12 is spring loaded'to a rest position with theanvil 12 raised above the lower stationary anvil 14 that supported'onthebase of the `A vertically positioned plate memberJ 1 5 providedwithan arm 16 to which may be removablyv and rotatably journalled at 17a supply reel 18 of tape 19' or 20 having 1 secured thereon eitherfastener eyes21 or'fastenerhooks comparatively complex and occasionallypresented diff 22, respectively. The supply tape is 'threaded over'guide members 25, 26, and 27 `to atake-up reel 28. Ivhevtakeup reel 28,is drivenby the, electric motor 29 through the gear l3l) 'andfrictionclutch 31 in a manner totendjto continuously pull the tape fromthesupplyre'el 18 until a fastener element thereon abuts as top member32 (see Figs. 13 and I14) on the tape guide 27. The `guide memberA 27vis4 positioned,v adjacent theanvil 12 in its normal restposition andeach time a fastener element on the tape abutting the' stop member 32 isstripped from the tapev and transferred to the anvili 12 in a manner tobe describedthe take-up reel 28 is 'driven by the friction clutch 31 topull the supply tapeand advance the next successive fastener elementinto position abutting the stop` member 32. As most clearly shown inFig. 1 of the drawingsrhe fastener elements on the supply tape aresecured thereon in a positionwith their staplelprongs depending towardsthe stationary anvil 14 when `positioned on the guide 27 against thestop member 32.

Extending Vvertically in a position to the rear of the Y yoke 10 isa'container 40 (see particularly Figs. 1 and 6 of vthe drawingslforbacking plates such as shown at 41. The `backing plates are kadfvancedand transferredfrom the container 40tb11'ough aguide Achannel 42 to thestationf ary anvil'14 `by means of spring loaded reciprocating ltransferA means to be later described in detail. Obviously,

the position of the backingplate 41 on Vthe stationary anvil 14isaligned withthe position of a hook or.'eye fastener element on themovable anvil 12 so that the depending prongs pass through theperforations of the backing plate when the movable anvil is movedtowards the stationary anvil by the pistonA of the air cylinder V11. Agarment support plate 50 is provided and when a garment is placedthereon, the prongs of the fastener element will pass through boththegarment and the perforations of the backing plate to be clinched andstapled thereto position with its staple prongs depending towards thestationary anvil. The fastener element 62 is shown in Fig. 13 in theposition on the supply tape before its transfer to the reciprocatinganvil 12 as shown by Figs. l1 and 12, 'and the fastener elements arecustomarily made of ferrous material. Therefore, the permanent magnet 60will retain the transferred fastener in position on the reciprocatinganvil 12 until it is stapled to the garment and backing plate as shouldbe well understood.

In orderfto strip and transfer a fastener element from the supply tapeat the guide 27 and stop member 32 to the reciprocating anvil 12, areciprocating transfery arm 70 islinked at 71 to a reciprocating drivearm 72 driven by a reciprocating servo mechanism such as an air cylinderor electric solenoid 73. A tension coil spring 74 normally urges thelinkage to a rest position with the transfer arm 70 and its transferelement 75 -at the end thereof resting adjacent supply tape guide 27above and to the left of the end of the movable anvil 12. The transferelement 75 is suitably shaped to engage and strip a fastener element ofeither the hook or eye type from the supply tape and is moved in a pathboth downward and towards the end of the anvil 12 to deposit thefastener element in position under the permanent magnet 60 as shown inFigs. 1l and 12 of the drawings. n l

`As the transfer arm 70 is reciprocated to and from the anvil 12, it isguided in its movement as described above by acam and roller guidemechanism shown in exploded detail in Fig. of the drawings. Thereciprocating transfer arm 70 is provided near its transfer element 75with a guide roller 76 that is engaged within the cut-out portion 77 ofthe cam plate 78. Also positioned within the cam cut-out 77 is a pivotedcam tongue 80 fixed to the shaft 81 journalled at 82 and constrained toan upper position as shown by the tension coil spring 83 with the end 84of the tongue 80 engaging the surface 8S of the out-out 77. It will benoted that the coil spring 86 (see stapling anvil.

Fig. 4) tendsl to pull `the reciprocating transfer `arm 70 upwards and,therefore, the guide arrangement described above is effective to permitthe arm 70 to rise upwardly at the return end of its reciprocatingstroke into a position to engage and strip a fastener element from thesupply tape upon the initiation of the next fastener feedingreciprocation of the transfer arm 70. Each time the arm 70 isreciprocated to feed a fastener element to the movable anvil 12, it isfirst moved downward by the cam cut-out surface 86 and the guide roller76 then passes past the tongue 80 which pivots against its spring 83 topermit such passage. As the arm 70 returns, however, the switch tongue80 keeps the arm 70 in its lower position until the arm reaches the endof its return stroke, yat which time the guide roller 76 passes the end90 of the tongue 80 and the spring 86 causes the arm70 to rise with itstransfer element behind and adjacent the next fastener element on thesupply tape at the guide stop member 32.

The reciprocating transfer mechanism for transferring mechanisminitiates a reciprocation of the transfer arm 70 to strip and transfer afastener element from the supply tape, the scrivo mechanism end 107engages the bell crank 105 to initiate a reciprocation of the transferrod 102 and move it to the cocked loading position shown by Fig. 6 ofthe drawing with the transfer shoulder 112 engaging the lowermostbacking plate in the container 40 and moving it towards the rest of thebacking plates in the guide channel 42. Thus when the backing plate atthe stationary anvil 14 is removed upon completion of the staplingoperation which is also after the arm 70, servo cylinder 73 and servomechanism end 107 have completed a reciprocation, the coil spring 103 iseffective to complete the reciprocation of the transfer rod 102 byreturning the rod to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawingsthereby advancing the next successive backing plate in the guide channel42 into position on the stationary anvil 14. v

It should now be understood that the initiation of each reciprocation ofthe transfer means for both the fastener elements and the backing platesshould be timed to occur before the initiation of each reciprocation ofthe A control circuit to simply provide such timed operation inconnection with certain manual controls is shown in Fig. 16 of thedrawings. In the first place it should be understood that the aircylinder 11 for reciprocating the movable anvil 12 towards thestationary anvil 14 is controlled by a manual air control valve, notshown, which may be positioned at any suitable location for operation bythe machine operator. Each timel the manual control Valve (not shown) ismanipulated to admit air to the air cylinder 11, the anvil 12 is moveddownward towards the anvil 14 and at the end of the stroke the air isdischarged from the cylinder and the piston within the cylinder isautomatically returned lby an interior spring to again raise the anvil12 to the normal resting position `above the anvil 14 as shown in Fig. 4of lthe drawings. Each time that the movable anvil 12 returns toitsnormally raised position above the stationary anvil 14, the microswitch120 is momentarily closed to complete a circuit shown in Fig. 16 of thedrawings to the relay coil 130, which closes its contacts 131 toestablish a holding circuit for the relay coil 130 through the normallyclosed microswitch contacts 121. Also, the operation of the relay 130closes its contacts 132 to complete a circuit to the solenoid aircontrol valve 122 which admits air to the transfer cylinder 73 causingthe linkage including the arms 72, link 71 and reciprocating transferarm 70 Vto engage a fastener element and transfer 'the element to themovable anvil 12. At the end of the stroke of the transfer arm 70towards the anvil 12, the contact arm 124 of the microswitch 121 isengaged by the projection 125 (see Fig. 4) to momentarily open the thebacking plates from the container 40 to the anvil 14 `1 is most clearlyshown in Figs. 4-10 ofthe drawings. The guide channel 42 is positionedbeneath thegarment support plate 50 and extends from the stationaryanvil 14 to a position beneath open lower end of the container 40.

Reciprocably journalled beneath the guide channel 42 at 100 and 101 is atransfer rod 102 that is spring loaded` by compression spring 103 toyadvance a backing -plate through the guide channel 42 to the stationaryanvil each time a backing plate is stapled to a garment and removed. Inorder to move the transfer rod 102 to the loading position against theyforce ofthe compression spring 103 as shown by Fig. 6 of the drawings,one end 108 of a bell crank 105, pivotally journalled at 106 isengagedby an end 107 of the reciprocation element of theservo mechanism73. The other end 109 of the bell crank 105 engages an angle abutment110 on the end of the transfer normally closed microswitch contact 121thus breaking the holding circuit for the relay circuit 130 whichthereupon restores. The restoration of the relay 130 de-energizes thesolenoid valve 122 which thereupon releases the air in the cylinder 73,allowing the spring 74 to return the transfer arm 70 to its normalresting position as previously described. Again referring to the circuitdiagram of Fig. 16, the control circuit is connected to the 11G-voltsource of current through a manual control switch 133 and the electricmotor 29 and panel light 134 are energized upon the closing of themanually-operated main switch 133. yOf course, with the main switch 133closed, the remainder of the control may operate in the manner describedabove.

It will now be seen that the timing of the initiation of thereciprocation of the transfer arm 70 and the transfer rod 102 for thefastener element and backing plate, respectively, is timed to occurafter the return of the airoperated anvil to its normal resting positionabove the stationary anvil upon the momentary closing of the microswitchas the anvil returns to its resting position. Thus, the operation of thetransfer cylinder 73 and associated transfer mechanisms for both thefastener element and the backing plate is prevented from occurringexcept when the movable anvil is resting in the normal position abovethe stationary anvil.

As a safety feature in order to prevent the inadvertent operation of theair cylinder 11 at av time when the transfer arm 70 may be movingtowards the movable anvil 12, a second solenoid valve 135 may beelectrically connected in parallel with the solenoid 17.2.Y and thisvalve may be interposed in the air line to the cylinder 11 in suchmanner as to prevent the passage of air to the air cylinder 11 so longas the solenoid valve 135 is energized, even though the manual controlvalve referred to may be operated to normally admit air to the aircylinder 11. The solenoid valve l135 is not shown structurally on thedrawings, although it is indicated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 16 andit should be obvious how this valve may be arranged in the `air supplyline between the manual control valve and the air cylinder 11.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art Within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. Forexample, although the invention has been specifically described inconnection with the transfer of a hook or eye fastener element from asupply tape to a movable anvil, it should be apparent that the transferof the hook or eye fastener element from the supply tape could beeffected towards the stationary anvil without departing from thespiritrof the invention. Similarly, the supply tape may be provided withboth hook and eye fastener elements alternately secured thereon. Y

What is claimed is: l

l. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners withdepending staple prongs secured along the length thereof, a containerfor a plurality of backing plates each having apertures to receive thestaple prongs of a respective one of said fasteners, a stationary anvil,a reciprocating anvil movable to and from said stationary anvil, meansmovable to strip and transfer a fastener from said tape to saidreciprocating anvil, means movable to transfer backing plates from saidcontainer to 'said stationary anvil, and means to move`- saidreciprocating anvil towards said stationary anvil with a fastener and abacking plate aligned in their respective positions 'on the respectiveanvils.

2. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners withdepending staple prongs se! cured along the length thereof, a containerfor a plurality of backing plates each having apertures to receive thestaple prongs of a respective one of said fasteners, a stationaryanvil', a reciprocating anvil movable to and from said stationary anvil,means movable to strip and transfer a fastener from said tape to one ofsaid anvils, means movable to transfer backing plates from saidcontainer to the other of said anvils, and means to move saidreciprocating anvil towards said stationary anvil with a fastener and abacking plate aligned in their respective positions on the respectiveanvils.

3. A `stapling machine for s-tapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners Withdepending staple prongs secured along the length thereof, a stopelement, friction drive means to tend to continuously pull said tapefrom said reel to a position with a fastener abutting said stop element,a container for a plurality of backing plates each having apertures toreceive the staple prongs` of a respective one of said fasteners, astationary anvil, a reciprocating anvil movable to 4and from saidstationary anvil, means movable to strip and transfer-'a fastener fromsaid .tape at said stop element to said reciprocating anvil, meansmovable to transfer backing plates from said container to saidstationary anvil, and means to move said reciprocating anvil towardssaid stationary anvil with a fastener and a backing plate aligned intheir respective positions on the respective anvils.

4. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners withdepending staple prongs secured along the length thereof, a containerfor a plurality of backing plates each having apertures to receive thestaple prongs of a respective one of said fasteners', a stationaryanvil, Ia reciprocating anvil movable to and from said stationary anvil,lirst reciprocable means movable to and from said reciprocating anvil tostrip and transfer a fastener from said tape to said reciprocatinganvil, second reciprocable means movable from and to Said stationaryanvil to transfer backing plates from said container to said stationaryanfvil, means to initiate a single reciprocation of said firstreciprocable means, means to initiate a single reciprocation of saidsecond reciprocable means substantially concurrently with the movementof said iirst reciprocable means, and means to initiate a reciprocationof said reciprocating anvil towards said stationary anvil when neithersaid rst nor second reciprocating means is 5. A stapling machine forstapling a fastener to a back ing plate comprising, a supply reel oftape having a plurality of fasteners with depending stapleprongs securedalong the length thereof, a container for a plurality of backing plateseach having apertures to receive the staple prongs of a respective oneof said fasteners, a stationary anvil,Y a reciprocating anvil movable toand from said stationary anvil, first reciprocable means movable to andfrom one of said anvils to strip and transfer a fastener from said tapeto said one anvil, second reciprocable means movable from and to theother of said anvils to transfer backing plates from said container tothe other of said anvils, means to initiate a single reciprocation ofsaid irst reciprocable means, means to initiate a single reciprocationof said second reciprocable means substantially concurrently with themovement of said first reciprocable means, and means to initiate areciprocation of said reciprocating anvil towards said stationary anvilwhen neither said lirst nor second reciprocating means is moving andwith a fastener and a backing plate aligned in their respectivepositions on the respective anvils.

6. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners lwithdepending staple prongs secured along the length thereof, a stopelement, friction drive means to tend to continuously pull said tapefrom said reel to a position with a fastener abutting said stop element,a container for a plurality of backing plates each having apertures toreceive the staple prongs of a respective one of said fasteners, astationary anvil, a reciprocating .anvil movable to and from saidstationary anvil, first reciprocable means movable to and from saidreciprocating anvil to strip and transfer a fastener from said tape atsaid stop element to said reciprocating anvil, second reciprocable meansmovable from and to said stationary anvil to transfer backing platesfrom said container to said stationary anvil, means to initiate a singlereciprocation of said iirst reciprocable means, means to initiate asingle reciprocation of said second reciprocable means substantiallyconcurrently with the movement of said first reciprocable means, andmeans to initiate a reciprocation of said reciprocating anvil towardssaid stationary anvil when neither said rst nor second reciprocatingmeans is moving and with a fastener and a backing plate aligned in theirrespective positions on the respective anvils.

7. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners withdepending staple prongs secured along the length thereof, a stopelement, friction drive means to tend to continuously pull said tapefrom said reel to a position with a fastener abutting said stop element,a container for a plurality of backing plates each having apertures toreceive the staple prongs of a respective one of said fasteners, astationary anvil, a reciprocating anvil movable to and from saidstationary anvil, first reciprocable means movable in a singlereciprocation from a rest position adjacent said stop means to and fromone of said anvils to strip and transfer a fastener from said tape tothe one anvil, second reciprocable means spring loaded at a restposition near the other of said anvils and movable towards saidcontainer and back to the other anvil to transfer backing plates fromsaid container to the other anvil, means to initiate a reciprocation ofsaid first reciprocable means, means to initiate a reciprocation of saidsecond reciprocable means substantially concurrently with the movementof said first reciprocable means, and means to initiate a reciprocationof said reciprocating anvil towards said stationary anvil |when neithersaid first nor second reciprocating means is moving and with a fastenerand a backing plate aligned in their respective positions on therespective anvils.

8. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener to a backing platecomprising, a 'supply reel of tape having a plurality of fasteners withdepending staple prongs secured along the length thereof, a stopelement, friction drive means to tend to continuously pull said tapefrom saidV reel in a position with a fastener abutting said stopelement, a container for a plurality of backing plates each havingapertures to receive the staple prongs of a respective one of saidfasteners, -a stationary anvil, a reciprocating anvil movable to andfrom said stationary anvil, first reciprocable means movable in a singlereciprocation from a rest position adjacent said stop means to and fromsaid reciprocating anvil to strip `and transfer a fastener from saidtape to said reciprocating anvil, second reciprocable means springloaded at a rest position near said stationary anvil and movable towardssaid container and back to said stationary anvil to transfer backingplates from said container to said stationary anvil, means to initiate areciprocation of said first reciprocable means, means to initiate areciprocation of said second reciprocable means substantiallyconcurrently with the movement of said first reciprocable means, andmeans to initiate a reciprocation of said reciprocating 8 anvil towardssaid stationary anvil when neither said first nor second reciprocatingmeans is moving and with a fastener and a backing plate aligned vintheir respective positions on the respective anvils. v

9. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener comprising, a supply reelof tape having a plurality of fasteners with depending staple prongssecured `along the length thereof, a stop element, friction drive meansto tend to continuously pull said tape from said reel to a position witha fastener abutting said stop element, a stationary anvil, areciprocating anvil movable to and from said stationary anvil,reciprocating means movable forwardly to a position adjacent said tapeto strip a fastener from said tape and transfer the fastener to one ofsaid anvils and thereafter movable rearwardly away from said tape, andmeans to move said reciprocating anvil toward said stationary anvil whensaid reciprocating means has moved away from said tape.

10. A stapling machine for stapling a fastener comprising, a supply reelof tape having a plurality of fasteners with depending staple prongssecured along the length thereof, a stationary anvil, a reciprocatinganvil movable to and from said stationary anvil, reciprocating meansmovable forwardly to a position adjacent said tape to strip a fastenerfrom said tape and transfer the fastener to one of said anvils andthereafter movable rearwardly away from said tape, and means to movesaid reciprocating anvil toward said stationary anvil when saidreciprocating means has moved away from said tape.

11. A stapling machine as set forth in claim 10, further characterizedin that said reciprocating means is guided during its movement by cammeans.

12. A stapling machine as set forth in claim 11 further characterized inthat said cam means guides said reciprocating means from its startingposition downwardly and forwardly toward said tape and thereafterrearwardly and upwardly to its starting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

